In the 1920's, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) envisioned the need for statistics on crime in our Nation. The committee on Uniform Crime Records of the IACP developed and initiated this national data collection effort in 1930 and still continues to advise the FBI on its conduct of the UCR program. The FBI, through the UCR Program, has collected and compiled data for use in law enforcement administration, operation, and management, as well as to indicate the fluctuations in the level of crime in America.

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program collects and reports crime offense data for the Nation, and in many instances, for smaller subdivisions of the country. Essential to maintaining uniform and consistent data is the utilization of standard definitions of the offenses used in the Program. Uniform Crime Reporting offenses are broken down into two major categories, Part I Offenses and Part II Offenses. Part I Offenses are the most serious offenses, which are broken down into 8 categories:

Murder

Forcible Rape

Robbery

Aggravated Assault

Burglary

Larceny - Theft

Motor Vehicle Theft

Arson

Part II Offenses encompass all other crime classifications outside those defined as Part I offenses. These offenses are generally less serious in nature, but help to give an overall crime picture within the Nation. Part II offenses are broken down into 20 categories:

Simple Assaults

Forgery and Counterfeiting

Fraud

Embezzlement

Stolen Property; Buying, Receiving, Possessing

Vandalism

Weapons; Carrying, Possessing, etc.

Prostitution and Commercialized Vice

Sex Offenses ( not Rape, Prostitution or Vice)

Drug Abuse Violations

Gambling

Offenses Against the Family and Children

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)

Liquor Laws

Drunkenness

Disorderly Conduct

Vagrancy

All Other Offenses

Curfew & Loitering

Runaways

The UCR Program gathers data on reported offenses, how they are cleared (by arrest or exceptional means), persons arrested, etc.

The Bristol Township Police Department contributes this data on a regular basis to the Pennsylvania State Police who in turn forwards the data to the FBI. This information is also published on a monthly report that can be viewed in the Manager's Office.

Crime Statistics

UCR Reports can be viewed at the new online PAUCRS, Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System.You can build your own reports and view the information in many different formats.